Reflections
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[2 Corinthians] The Spilling Over
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you." - 2 Corinthians 13:13 My first service after I was ordained was in my home church in Lake Ainslie, Cape Breton. With our Celtic roots, I wanted...
A Big Surprise
A BIG SURPRISE by Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading in the Lectionary this week is John 1:43-51. When I turned my attention to the Reading and considered it in my way, it seemed as though one sentence, spoken by Nathaniel, was printed in bold: “Can anything good come...
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[1 Corinthians] Now is Enough
"For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 Seeing yourself on Zoom is disagreeable, but seeing yourself with mirror image turned off is...
Hallelujah Anyway
HALLELUJAH ANYWAY by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm Selection designated for this Sunday is Psalm 147:12-20 This Psalm is from a section of Psalms called “Praise Psalms,” and this portion of it opens with a burst of praise, “Hallelujah . . . praise your God.” This is a...
A Comforting Christmas
A COMFORTING CHRISMAS by Hugh Farquhar The Old Testament Lectionary Reading designated for the Second Sunday in Advent is Isaiah 40:1-11. The first verse caught my attention: “Comfort, O comfort my people” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.” (Isaiah...
Mixed Metaphors
MIXED METAPHORS by Hugh Farquhar The Reading from the Hebrew Scriptures assigned in the Lectionary for this coming Sunday, Reign of Christ Sunday, is Ezekiel 34:11-15, 20-24. I remember the occasion when Queen Elizabeth presented a medal to my father. He had helped to...
Let’s Keep Our Eyes Open
LET’S KEEP OUR EYES OPEN by Hugh Farquhar The Lectionary Epistle Reading for this Sunday is 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. I find myself drawn to verse 6, "So then let us not fall asleep as others do but let us keep awake.” During my years of leadership at St. Paul’s United...
Story: Language of the Soul
STORY: LANGUAGE OF THE SOUL by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm Reading in the Revised Common Lectionary this coming Sunday is Psalm 78:1-7. I always consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a home where stories abounded. I think my mother read stories to me when I was...
Steadfast Love
By Hugh Farquhar The Psalm prescribed in the Lectionary for this Sunday is Psalm 107. It begins on a high note: “O give thanks, for God is gracious, God’s steadfast love endures forever.” Among my most prized possessions is a gift that was given to me by a student in...
Loving Yourself
By Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading prescribed in the Lectionary for next Sunday is Matthew 22:34-40. It contains some of Jesus’ most memorable words, including: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Whitney Houston had a big hit that stayed on the charts for...
Just Enough of God
by Hugh Farquhar The Revised Common Lectionary Reading from the Hebrew Scripture on Sunday is Exodus 33:12-23. The concluding verse is striking: “You shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” Years ago, when the older two of our four children were small, we...
“Now is the Time” Advent Small Group Study
Now is the Time: A Resource for Small Group Study or for Individual Study "Imagine if COVID regulations were in place when Mary came to visit Elizabeth. She's ring the doorbell and then stand back two metres. There would be no hug." The 2020 Advent Small...
Bearing Fruit
Bearing Fruit by Carolyn Crowell, To Touch the Mystery: Poetry for the Journey of Life. Carolyn is an educator, minister, theologian and writer in The United Church of Canada. She writes poems that reflect the presence of the Spirit in everyday life. Learn more and...
Queen Anne’s Lace – Stroll for Your Soul
Each spring Prayer Bench in Canada and Kereru Publishing in New Zealand offer a program called Stroll for Your Soul. Stroll offers 21 days of accompaniment through a brief email delivered early each morning to your inbox. Each email will offer a practice, or a...
Sunflowers: Pronouncing a Blessing
Sunflowers: Pronouncing a Blessing Read Psalm 113 “From the rising of the sun to its setting the name of...
Soul Songs: Psalm 118
LENT SOUL SONG VISUAL PRAYER Psalm 118 Set Your Face Toward the Riot And on this path the gates are opening wide — Psalm 118 Read Psalm 118: 1,2 -19-29 What parts of this Psalm speak to you? Inspire, resonate or call to you? What feelings, longings, hopes are evoked...
Soul Songs: Psalm 130
LENT SOUL SONG VISUAL PRAYER Psalm 130 Tending the Grief "My whole being waits for you, my God, listening for your Presence.” -- Psalm 130:4 Read Psalm 130 What feelings, longings, hopes are evoked in you as you pray this Psalm? When life is hard and you are hurting,...
Soul Songs: Psalm 23
LENT SOUL SONG VISUAL PRAYER Psalm 23 Hospitality "Anoint my head, and fill my cup to overflowing." - Psalm 23 Read Psalm 23 What parts of this Psalm speak to you? Inspire, resonate or call to you? What feelings, longings, hopes are evoked in you as you pray this...
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